hemingway

All the posters on this site are passionate about the club. And despite the stereotypes, Dees supporters are a passionate mob. Many of us are experiencing something new and different this season. Its a new found belief and confidence in the club and the players. You can see it with the players. There is a new found alchemy within the team. A realisation that we have a group of great players and some young kids who will be great. Something special is a foot. We will lose games and we may not take the ultimate prize this year. You need a lot of luck and at any time that luck can go missing. Injuries, form, suspension, umpires. Irrespective, we have a team worth watching. We want to go to the games, we want to watch the games on TV. Hey, do you believe this old team of ours is in control of the game. They may be well paid but they are playing for more than money. They want to experience success and feel proud of their team, and they want to give back to supporters. They really care. So soak it up and enjoy every minute. It will not last for ever so enjoy the present. And be generous in our praise. And let’s avoid harsh criticism and scapegoating individual players. These young men are under enormous pressure to perform. They cannot all be champions but you can tell that they are giving it their best shot. They are playing like Demons. However, the whole club needs a big pat on the back. We are starting to behave like a successful club on and off the field. Let’s all enjoy the ride wherever it takes us. We no longer have a winter of discontent ahead of us. We have rediscovered our love of winter and our great game. Most importantly, our love for our great club.

When you love something or somebody, it’s easy to be generous. And I love our club. Sam is a Demon with upside. At the moment we can afford to be generous.

An integral part of the team. Good in the air, clever and creative at ground level, and finds space. Provides balance, mobility and goal kicking ability.

Who ???????

Agreed. Rivers is something else. But also agree with your comments about the young brigade. For me this is just as thrilling as watching our stars. They have injected youth, energy, enthusiasm, tenacity and never give up spirit. They have a fresh approach untainted by the past. Add to Rivers, Jordon, Kozzi, Jackson, Spargo, Petty, Sparrow, and yes, even Weideman. The future with these kids looks bright.

Just look at the bloody ladder folks. Who would have thought, top of the ladder, 3 games clear of Cats et al, 4 games clear of Swans etc and 5 bloody games clear of Giants and Tigers!

The years of disappointment are disappearing for me OD. Its a great feeling. To have a team and club to be proud of. Wow!

No individual criticism from me, outstanding total team effort.

Spot on.

Heroic optimism DOF.

We currently have a dysfunctional forward line. Just can’t see us hurting them on the scoreboard.

The British Hotel, a gastro pub in Finniss St, North Adelaide, a short walk from the ground. Nice public bar with good ales on tap, plus lounge area. Big Dining area out the back. Have not been there for a few years but has been a good pub for many years.

In regard to my last comment about those that fall in battle, there is no doubt that teams are going to increasingly target our key players both fairly and unfairly. Get ready for some pretty physical stuff as opponents test us out. Fortunately, we have some tough nuts and others who will stand up for themselves and their team mates. We are no longer soft. However, we will need to be tough to withstand the punishment that is coming.

Thanks Adam. The feedback of posters reflect that we have depth and a nucleus of “stars.” It is difficult to identify one player as making the difference. We would miss any one of our top guns but from a leadership viewpoint I go back to Max. He has become the figurehead for this team. He may not be a Barassi or Martin but as well as on field ruck dominance he provides cool and mature leadership. If you think of the team without him, it would be a boat without an anchor. At some stage this year our depth will be tested when we are required to field a team without one or more of our stars. It will be a test to see who can step up and fill the shoes of those that fall in battle.

We have the example of the importance of one player to both a team and their success rate. We accept that to win flags you need a champion team over a team of champions. However, you cannot under estimate the importance of one player. Currently, his name is Dusty. But when you think back, it has always been so. It was often said during the Demons great days, “no Barassi, no Melbourne”. And the facts are that Melbourne was often vulnerable when RDB was not playing. Arguably we missed out winning the flag in 63 when Ron was suspended for hitting Roger Dean just before the finals. Ron provided the leadership, the spark that inspired others. Norm Smith knew this and it was the reason he was always so tough on him and would provoke an angry and aggressive response from Ron on the field. There are plenty of examples. Hawthorn without Hudson, Geelong without Ablett Snr, South without Skilton, the Tigers without Hart or Stewart. The Blues without Jezza. The list goes on and on. Is it the Demons without Oliver or Gawn or Petracca or May? At times the absence of one key player can make a difference to winning games. Whatever the answer, it is the reason we need to remain circumspect about the ultimate success this season. We need a full fit list to push for glory. In my view, the key player to our fortunes is probably Max. For his leadership and influence on the ground. As a current AFL player said to me recently, if you put Max in the Bulldogs team, they would be unstoppable. Anyway, let’s keep our fingers crossed in regard to our very best whether it be Gawn, Clarry , Petracca, May etc.

Coin Jar. Beauty, just great. What a depressing world. Thank god for the football.

As we enjoy this period of success, a period of nine weeks that no one could have predicted at the beginning of the season , we should remember the past. In particular, all those who have gone to the after life without seeing success. There are the older brigade that may have seen success pre-1965 but had to endure decades of failure and there are those poor souls born post 64 but who sadly passed on before 2021. Remember them. Remember chance. There are those that are born, live and love at an opportune time and thousands of supporters that in footy terms were dealt a bad hand. Every win in a surreal way, is a win for them. Here’s to patience, endurance, resilience and long life. Here’s hoping that we carry the eternal spirit of our friends and family who were Dees supporters. If we are here today, we are lucky. If we can just enjoy the present and not worry about the future, then we should rejoice in seeing our mob rise from the ashes. We are watching a collection of young stars developing into a formidable team. It is like the development of Norms boys in the 50s. There is something special in the air. Go Dees you bloody beauties.

I think Oliver is so good that any criticism is simply absurd. There is no perfect player, there is no perfect human being. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. All the footy greats have had them. Oliver does things that I have never seen before. You know what I mean. He is a freak or very close to one. At the very least he has skills that make him a great player. We are lucky to have him. Sit back watch him closely, enjoy it, be amazed at what he can do, and forget the faults. I have made my mind up. He is a freak! And he is our freak. Enjoy the moment because down the track he will be gone. We will not see his like again. And like Robbie he will be just a memory and we will sit back and say, how good was Oliver.

We need to lose to restore some balance to DL. It’s become boring and predictable.

Until the Pies and every other club come knocking with huge offers to jump ship.

Classic MFCSS

Most players like Goodwin. And I think also respect him. Isaac Smith did end up at Geelong but was super impressed with Goodwin and he was very close to coming to Melbourne. He went to Geelong to get out of the city of Melbourne and lead a slower pace of life. He is a country boy and thought Geelong was a better fit for lifestyle reasons. However, it was Goodwin that got him close to donning the red and blue.

Fair dinkum unbelievable.....

We had great pride. The team, the coach and of course the supporters. In those days, the Northern Stand was a Demons stronghold. We expected to win and was always a surprise when we lost. Many many games we would be level pegging and even down at half-time or three quarter time, and Norm would give the players an almighty roast. Norm is full throttle was dominating, commanding and above all frightening. The team normally got the message and as with other great teams ran over the opposition in the second half. The 64 Granny, I was sitting on the top deck of the Northern Stand with my father and his footy mates. There was a sense that it was going to be a tight game and that the Pies had come to play. The famous Gabbo run and goal in the last was like watching our hopes and dreams go down an enormous crevasse in the ground. There was the sense that it was all over. At very least that it was going to be difficult to come back. The Froggy Crompton goal came like a miracle out of the blue. Unbelievable, incredible, beyond comprehension. Then the torture of the last few minutes with the Pies throwing everything at the Dees. Somehow we hung on like resilient teams do. The end. Exhilaration but above all relief. To look at Collingwood fans leaving the ground bereft and some in tears. Heartbroken. I could see what it was like to lose. And I felt sorry for them. Walking through Yarra Park. Floating. Blissfully unaware of the disaster that was approaching in 65. When the Titanic hit an iceberg.

Hope they have insured his knees for 7 years. And that he remains motivated for that period of time. Always worry about long-term contracts but I understand the pressure coming from other clubs. It is just a hell of a lot of money over a long time. How will he be in 5 years let alone 7. Keep our fingers crossed.